The New York Creation Battle

Our group, the Science Council of New York City (SCONYC), is a federation of the
nine science teachers' organizations in the City. We had run four successful
conventions on educational and pedagogical matters in the past, but were totally
unprepared when the creation issue came up in the legislature a few months ago.

Although we knew of creationist efforts to introduce the two-model approach into
a revision that was being made of the biology syllabus, we were unaware that a
creationist bill had suddenly been considered by the Senate Education Committee.
By the time we learned that a vote would soon be taken, we had only one week to
defend the integrity of science teaching.

Though still unorganized, we managed to send flyers to all the high schools in
New York City asking for a flood of letters and telegrams to descend upon the
State Capitol at Albany. The flyers supplied names and addresses of key
legislators and of the 17 members of the Education Committee: they also
mentioned a few crucial arguments. Quantity, not quality, was urged.

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We also alerted The New York Academy of Sciences of the impending
legislation. That body speedily appointed a committee which prepared a Policy
Statement on the Teaching of Creationism that was sent to members of the
legislature. A significant statement included was: "The subject known as
'Scientific Creationism' is lacking in scientific substance; we reject it for
inclusion in science curricula."

Most members of the Senate Education Committee seemed to see nothing wrong with
"letting kids hear both sides of the story." Our hastily organized campaign
apprised them of the serious implications of this proposal and of the existence
of an articulate, determined, and organized opposition.

We really don't know how significant a part we played in the decision, but the
bill was not brought up again in committee. Thus ended our first successful
skirmish. We are preparing for next year's battle with a little more savvy.

SCONYC's Committee for Scientific Freedom is now in the process of organizing an
all-day symposium to be held on Saturday, December 6, 1980 in the auditorium of
Rockefeller University. The symposium's purposes are to bring science teachers
up to date on new ideas in evolution theory and to make them aware of competing
arguments advanced by creationists and evolutionists. We shall also include an
open forum from which we hope will emerge concrete ideas for organizing a
committee of correspondence for the state. Furthermore, we hope to register
volunteers for a communications network that will relay notices to schools and
communities.

Statewide publicity for the symposium will go to scientists as well as to high
school teachers. We hope that scientists will assume positions of leadership in
the effort to educate the public and members of the legislature of the need to
keep non-science out of science and to separate religion from government.

Now that the creationist bill has failed, the draft for the new state syllabus
in biology has been issued for field trial and evaluation. We have not yet seen
the preface to this draft but understand that it will describe the procedure
followed by the Bureau of Science Education in deciding to omit creationism.

As in all new campaigns, we still have a number of unanswered questions. For
example, what are the implications concerning IRS tax-exempt status if science
teacher clubs and committees of correspondence engage in a program of educating
legislators and the public on matters that lie within their field of expertise
and social responsibility? What are the technical definitions of political
activity and lobbying? How can we counteract propaganda aimed at school boards
and textbook adoption committees? How can we support teachers in small
communities in withstanding local anti-evolutionist pressures? Anyone who can
answer such questions and provide guidelines for organization will help
grassroot efforts everywhere.

Title:

The New York Creation Battle

Author(s):

David Kraus

Volume:

1

About the Author(s):

Mr. Kraus was formerly Chairman of the Science Department at the Far Rockaway High School in New York City and President of the Biology Chairmen's Association. He claims not to be retired—'just re-treaded."